<p>This is my first time here, so I hope I posted in the right forum. </p>
<p>Anywho...</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I wasn't accepted into any of the UC's I had wanted to go to. It was the opposite for the CSU. I did get accepted into UCR, as well as most of the CSU's I applied to. And with the deadline approaching, I still can't seem to decide where I should go. So far, I narrowed my choices down to two.</p>
<p>UC Riverside and CSU Long Beach.</p>
<p>UC Riverside:
-I heard positive and negative things about the school. Mostly negative.
-It is a UC, and usually UC's are good... right?
-It's in the desert. :(
-I've heard that the campus is beautiful.
-There's not much outside of the campus, not to mention, that outside of the campus is not exactly as pretty.
-I like the programs, and I've heard they have a nice Psychology program. (Well, most schools do, but that's besides the point.)
-I heard that a lot of students like to bum around, and I'm not really interested in hanging around those type of people. (I'm not saying that I don't like bumming around, it's just that education is a big thing in college, you know?)
-I've read somewhere that "UC Riverside" on your resume actually looks bad. Is that true? </p>
<p>CSU Long Beach:
-My cousin said it was a good school, but he could just be biased.
-I like the area, and it's close to home.
-Apparently, they're one of the top CSU's. Riverside, not so much.
-I like the overall tuition expense.</p>
<p>I'm kind of leaning towards CSU Long Beach, but it's a small tilt. Opinions? Advice?</p>
<p>I'd go to UCR. It's a UC and is still one of the Top 100 colleges in the country. It's kind of looked down upon by some people because most of the UC's are better, but it's still a good school. I don't find Long Beach or Riverside very appealing so the location part would be a wash for me.</p>
<p>Visit both campuses and go where you feel more comfortable.</p>
<p>I was also considering Riverside. After visiting the college what people say of the area is wrong. It is a nice campus, plenty of thing to do outside the campus as well as a descent school.</p>
<p>Also I think the bum around is just a rumor, most student are still at a descent level and the UC's do have standards. Also you are talking about a school that is at the bottom of a very well respected system so even Riverside would be good.</p>
<p>UCR is underrated academically, but the area absolutely stinks. It’s crime ridden, dirty, very smoggy, and hot. The campus is a mixed bag. Some of the buildings are modern and look great, while others are old and very ugly. </p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't find Long Beach or Riverside very appealing so the location part would be a wash for me.
[/quote]
Have you been to Long Beach lately? The area around the campus is becoming pretty upscale with lots of nice restaurants, stores, and bars.</p>
<p>Long Beach’s campus is very nice. You also have a nice town around the college, you are close to the water, and the weather is great. Long Beach is centrally located so everything in close.</p>
<p>One thing you might want to consider
UC Riverside ~15,000 undergrads
Long Beach State ~30,000 undergrads (though at least of third of them are part time)</p>
<p>Both are commuter schools. Both are solid academically and have good reputations in Socal (especially in Business).</p>
<p>Everyone I know who goes/went to Long Beach loves it (not a small sample size either, around 40 people). The opinion of UCR is mixed. I have a friend at UCR right now who is enjoying his time there. A girl I know who just graduated from UCR told me that the school was "ok", but she disliked the area.</p>
<p>I'm sure Riverside's is great education-wise, I mean, it's a UC right? The only problem is that I really have with the school is that I'm the type of person who can't really stay in one spot for a while. I want to be able to go outside of campus, which I can't really do much in Riverside. (Well, I can, but I'm not sure if I would enjoy it.) </p>
<p>Anyways, again, thanks for replying. I think I made my decision. (Long Beach)</p>
<p>But then again, I'm indecisive and I'll probably hesitate if I think about it too much. (Which is why I'm having this problem in the first place.)</p>
<p>There's plenty to do in Riverside and the surrounding areas...it takes a little bit of creativity. Also, outdoor activities here are very good, and the faculty are absolutely top-notch (a benefit of going to a UC). </p>
<p>UCR is a top notch research university without a ton of grad students (though I am one here) so undergrads get lots of attention. Cal States, while good in there own right, are not the research institutions that the UC's are.</p>
<p>I'm going to UCR, and if you heard that a degree from UCR looks bad, I'm not sure a degree from CSULB would look any better (not to bash either school). And worried student has it right about the campus, some buildings are great, some not so great.</p>
<p>And the woman who won the Apprentice graduated from UCR, so I guess Donald Trump doesn't think that poorly of UCR? But either way, visit both, because its going to be you making the final decision, not us.</p>
<p>UCR is a fine school, but the woman who won the Apprentice? I think there are far better alumni to refer to like the guy who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry or Charles Young, the former chancellor of UCLA.</p>
<p>I think Im going to buck the trend and say CSULB. </p>
<p>It sounds like you the location of CSULB better but you think UCR might be worth it because of its academics.</p>
<p>UCR may be more prestigous and may have better name recognition, but honestly I dont think its enough to go there and not enjoy the location. Education is what you make of it and quite frankly I think the benefits of an UCR diploma is not enough to make up for its campus and surrounding areas.</p>
<p>For example, I go to Chico State, a medicore CSU. However, because I am am motivated student, no doors have been closed to me. It has been much easier for me to become heavily involved with student organizations or area companies and get some real world expierence. I havent had problems getting internships or job offers either.</p>
<p>The only reason why I might say UCR would be better is if you were thinking of Grad School.</p>